Pressed-steel running board



Patented May 14, 1929.

UNI-TED STATES f PATENT( OFFICE@ WESLEY-C. CASSON, OFv HIGHLAND PARK, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORTO GENERAL'MOTORS GORPORATION,.OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, 'A lCORPORATION 0F DELAWARE.

. 'PRnssED-STEEL RUNNING BOARD.,

`Application led November 20, 1926. Seria1 No. 149,676.

This invention relates to motor vehicles running boardv thereof. n

The object of the invention is to construct a metal running board of aminimum number of pressed sheet steel stampings and to apply a novel finishing strip for holding the usual mat. The running board proper comprises a sub'liame or understruoture consist- ,ing oftwo similar stampings upon which rests the foot plate. Y This plate has flanged edges embracing the understructureV and al marginal depressionor indentation to receive a U-shaped linishing strip. The strip has press-ed out tongues which enter slots formed in the depressed edge and is the means for securing the mat to the foot-plate. Themat is held between the upper and lower arms 'of the finishing strip and is applied in annovel manner, i. e. by bending upwardly the eX- posed arm of the strip and rebending it down- `wardly onto the mat after the latter has been set in place. j

In thedrawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the running board with parts broken away to better illustrate Y the construction.

Figure 2 is a transverse section on line 2-2 of' Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail showin@ the manner of' applying the securing strip to old the mat, the full line position indicating the strip before it is bent onto the mat and the dotted position after it is bent.

Figure 4 is a detail taken yon the line 4-4 of Figure 2 showing the manner of attaching the reinforcing strip to the plate.

Figures 5 and 6 show modified forms of attaching means.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates the running board as a whole. This board is composed of a subfranie comprising two identical stampings 2 and 3 pressed from a single sheet of metal and spaced from each other so as to form a trough 4 between them. One side of these stampings is channel shaped and this channel presents upwardly and has its edges oppositely flanged as at 5 and 6. The bottom of the channel may bev provided with openings 18 to make a lighter structure.

At their outer sides each stamping has the frame member 7 integrally joined to the chanvnel at both ends as shown at 8 and at points 9 spaced a short distance from the ends. The

joint at 9 is at the bottom of the stamping and is a substantially broad piece of metal 10 having an opening 11 for the reception of theusual bolt' to secure the running board vto the supporting braces. The edgesv 12 of the portion 10 are ,flanged inwardly for stifening purposes, and similarly the lower edge of the frame 7 is flanged inwardly as at 13.

f A flat foot' plate 14, having downturned marginal flanges 15 on its four sides, overlies the stampings 2 and '3 of the subframe and these flanges 15 extend below and lie in intimate contact with the lateral frame members 7 The lower edges of the flanges 15 are rear flanges a space is-.allowedyAt the ends of the stampings 2 and 3, flanges 16 are provided .for securing 'the' stamping end 'to the end flangel of the plate 14.

i The partsso far described may be secured together by riveting welding, or by any other suitable means. i

Overlying thelfoot plate14 is a mat 17 rounded and inwardlyy flanged as at 19-f`or v stiifening purposesand betweenthe side anda plurality of slots 22 the vpurpose of which will be later specified.

In order to hold the mat 17 `on the plate 14, securing or finishing strips 23 are applied at the edges of the plate. These strips are of U-shape, Figures 2 and 3, with the lower arm of the U slightly broader and resting in the depression 21. Thestrip 23 is of any suitable material, preferably aluminum, and has punched therefrom at suitable intervals tongues'25, the adjacent tongues being bent in opposite directions as shown in dotted outline in Figure 1. The spacing of these tongues corresponds to the spacing of the slots 22 of the plate 14 and this tongue and slot connection25, 21 affords a means of securing the finishing strip to the plate 14 by bending the tonguesunder and against the lower side of the plate, Figures 2 and 4.

The upper arm 26 of the strip 23 isupwardly bent, Figure 3, to allow for the insertion of the mat 17, and then bent downwardly onto the mat edge as shown in full lines in Figure 2 and by dotted outline in Figure 3 to hold the mat. The mat lies over the plate 14 and the lower arm 24 of the strip 23, the depth of the depression 2l being substantially equal to the thickness of the arm 24. It will of course be understood that only the strips. at one side and end need be bent to the angle shown in Figure 3. The upward bend at the other two edges need only be sufficient to allow the mat to be slid into place.

In the modification in Figure 5 I show the finishing strip 23 secured by means of a rivet 27, having its head countersunk in the arm 24 as shown at 28 and passes through and has its lower end upset against the under side of the Vplate 14.

In themodification of Figure 6 a bolt 29 having a nut 30, a spring washer 3l and a countersunk head 32 is used to hold the nishing strip onto the plate 14. rihis structure is analogous to that of Figure 5 the difference residing in the use of a bolt instead of a rivet;

I claim:

l.V A runningboard for motor vehicles consisting of a subframe comprising a plurality of similar stampings, each stamping comprising a channel shaped portion and a lateral frame portion, said stampings having a trough between them, and a langed plate overlying said sub'lrame. i Y

2. A running board for motor vehicles consisting of a subjframe composed of a plurality of similar stainpings, each stamping comprising a channel shaped portion and a lateral frame portion, said stampings having a longi- V tudinal trough between them, a plate overlying said subframe, downturned lianges at the edges of the plate, said flanges embracing the frame portion.

3. A running board for motor vehicles con sisting of a subframe composed of a. plurality of similar stampings, each stamping coinprisinga channel shaped portion and a lat? eral frame portion, a joint intermediate the ends of the channel and frame portions said joint comprising a relatively broad metallic portion having a bolt opening ior securing Y the running board to the vehicle.

4. In a running board, a. stamped metal subirame, a plate, a. depressed margin on said plate, flanges at the margin, said plate oven Vlying and having its flanges embracing said subrame, and a iinlshing strip seated 1n said depression.

5. In a running boa-rd for automotive vehicles, a stamped metal subframe, a flanged plate overlying said subframe, said flanges embracing said subframe, a depressed margin on said plate, a mat overlying said plate, and a finishing strip seated in said margin and securing said'mat to said plate.

6. 'I he invention of claim 5, said finishing strip comprising a U-shaped metallic member, one log of the U resting on and secured atthe depressed margin, the other leg eX- tending over and folding down on the mat,

7. The inyention of claim 5, said linishing strip comprising an originally L-shaped member having the base of the L seated on and secured at the depressed portion, and the leg of the L later bent over onto the mat.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

WESLEY o. Casson. 

